Pneumatic for musical instruments.



PATEIITED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. BINNIG. PNEUMATIC FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYlO. 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1 %%N. k g I 3 .1 N QQ MN I E I L If QR? mw PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. BINNIG. PNEUMATIC FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYIO. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Zmwar wwaaea mmmwm lUliilllTFil) PATENT @FFl-Ttdll JACGB Blllllliir, OF BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF OllE-HALF TO MASQN & HAMLIN COMPAUY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSAiJiiUSElTS,

A CORPORATIQN OF DELAWARE.

"Pastures-ran Foe l'flUSlQAL insrsurusars.

its. ceaeeh Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Sept. 4%, 1906.

Application filed July 10, 1905- Serial No. 268,912- I To all whom, it rmty concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB BINNIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Sufi'olk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Pneumatics for Musical Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawin 's, is a specification, like numerals on the rawings representing like parts. a

' This invention relates to pneumatics for use in connection with organs, automatic piano-players, andother musical instruments and it has for its object to provide a novel pneumatic in which the valve system is delicately balanced, so that a minimum amount of force will be required to open the valve of the pneumatic in order to set in operation the power pne'umatic or other device to be operated.

My invention may be embodied in a pneu' matic adapted to operate with wind-pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, as well as with wind-pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and in the drawings 1 have shown my invention as embodied in both of these types o'l pneumatics.

A device embodying my invention comprises a counterbalancing-chamber which communicates with the wind-chest, two con nected valves, one controlling communica tion between the wind-chest and the device to be operated, which device may be another pneumatic, a power-pneumatic, a pipe-valve, &c., and the other valve controlling communication between said device to be operated and the atmosphere, a counterbalancing-diaphragm which is connected to said. valves and which is subjected to the air tension in the wind-chest, and an actuating-dia hragm also connected to said valves and irming one side of an operating-chamber. The valve controlling communication between the wind-- chest and the device tebeoperated is so ranged that the air tension in the wind-chest tends to hold it in its, normal position, and this tendency is partiall counteracted by the action of the counter alancing-diaphragm. The size of the valve has such a relation to the size of said diaphragm that. these two opposed forces, one tending to hold the valve in its normal position and the other to force the valve out of such position, very nearly, but

not quite, counteract each other, there being a preponderance of pressure on the valve tending to keep it in its normal position. This preponderance of pressure, however, is so slight that a very slight chan e of pressure or air tension in the operating-c amber is sufficient to overcome it and to throw the valve of the pneumatic quickly and positively.

Figure 1 shows my invention as arranged when the wind-pressure is less than atmospheric. Fig. 2 is a section through the powerpneumatic shown inFig. I. Fig. 3 is a view showing a pneumatic embodying my invention adapted for use in connection with windpressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of my invention in which the pneumatic is operated by wind-pressure less than atmospheric pres sure. Fig. 5 is'an embodiment of my invention whichis adapted for operating a pipevalve, and Fi 6 is a modification of Fig. 5. Referring st to Fig. 1, 3' designates a power-pneumatic, which may be used for any purpose desirecl-as, for instance, for operating the fingers of an ordinary piano-player. Said power-pneumatic is shown as operated by a secondary pneumatic 42, andisaid secondary pneumatic is operated by aprimary pneumatic 5,- which is controlled by means of a perforated sheet 6, passing over a tracker-board 7. The secondary pneumatic herein illustrated comprises a suitable casing 8, divided into two chambers 9 and 10, the communication between which is controlled bya suitable valve 11. The chamber 10 constitutes counterbalancingchamber and communi cates with a wind-chest 12, having a wind pressure therein'less than atmospheric. The chamber!) communicates with the atmos phere through a port 13,- which is adapted to be closedbya suitable valve 14. Both the valvesi-ii. and is are carried by a valve-stem l5, Whichis connected at one end to a counter balanoing dia hragm 16, closing one end ol the counterba ancing-chamber 10, and at the -ether end to an actuating-diaphragm 17,

which forms oneside of an o crating-chamber 18, communicating witi the primary pneumatic. When the pneumatic is operated b pressure less than atmospheric pressure, t e wind-chest 152 then becomes an exhaust-chamhcr, and in this case the valve 1 l.

I o 5 is situated within the clue mbcr 9. With this arrangement the suction or air tension within the wind-chest 12 operates on the valve 11, tending to close it, and also operates on the counterbalancing-diaphragm 16 with a pressure tending to open said valve, it being understood that the actuating-diaphragm 17 is neutral, it having atmospheric pressure on both sides thereof. The area of said. valve 11 and of the counterbalancing-diaphragm 16 hear such relation to each other, however, that together with the weight of the valvethere is apreponderance of pressure tending to maintain the valve 11 in its normal or closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. This preponderance of pressure, however, is comparatiyely slight, so that a sh ht change ofpressure in the operating-cham er 18 is suliicient to overcome it and cause the valvesof the pneumatic to be operated quickly. The primary pneumatic 5 comprises a suitable casing 20, having a counterbalancing-chamber21, communicating with a wind-chest 220 of the secondary pneumatic, and achamber 23, communicating with the atmosphere through a port 24, which is adapted to be closed by a valve and with the counter balancing-chamber 21, through a port 26, which is adapted to be closed by a valve 27. Both these valves are carried by a suitable valve-stem 28, which is operated by an actuating-diaphragm 29, separating the counterbalancing-chamber 21 from an operatingchamber 22, which communicates through the duct 230 with one of the ducts of the tracker-board 7. The air tension in the windchest 220 acts against both the valve 27 and the diaphragm 29, the action against the valvetending to close it and that a ainst the diaphragm tending to open said va vef The area of the valve and diaphragm bear such relation to each other that with the action of gravity on the valve there is a preponderance of pressure tending to keep the valve 27 closed but this preponderance of pressure is overcome by a slight change of pressure in the chamber 22.

The operation of this device will be aparent from the foregoing, and is follows: t will be understood, of course, that the actuating-diaphragm 29 is provided with 'a suitable bleed-hole, so that normally the chamber 22 is exhausted as well as the chamber 21, and the valve 27 is therefore in its normal position or closed by the preponderance of pressure thereon. When, however, an aperture in the perforated sheet 6 over the duct in the traekenboard, air is admitted to, the chamber 22 and the valve 27 opened and valve 25 closed, will be obvious. When this occurs, the chamber 18 will be :XlHtUStGd and the dia hragm 17 moved '..pwai'dl v, (it being um erstood that the lower side of said diaphragm is always subjected to atmosphericpressure,) thereby closing valve 14. and opening valve 11, thus opening communication between the wind-chest 12 and the pneumatic and exhausting the latter. As soon as the operating-chainber 18 is opened to the atmosphere through the-openin of the valve 25 the valve 11 will close and wiTl be held closed by the preponderance oi" pressure above referred to. r

Where the Wind-pressure in the wind-chest is greater than atmospheric pressure, the valves of a pneumatic embodying my invention are arranged slightly di'llerently from What they are in Fig. 1. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, wherein 30 designates the device to be operated, which device may be a power-pneumatic or a pipe valve of an organ, and 31 designates the sec-' ondary pneumatic connected to the wind chest 32, and 33 a primary pneumatic connceted to a wind-chest 3a. The secondary pneumatic comprises the chamber 35, whi h connects with the device 30 to be operated, and a counterbalancing-chamher 36, which connects with the wind-chest 32. The communication between the chambers 35 and 3 is controlled byavalve 37, carried by a valvestem 38, and secured to said "...-vestem is another valve 39, which controls communication between the chamber 35 the atmosphere. Said valve-stem is connected one end to a counterbalancing-diaphragm 1-0, which formsone side of the counterbalancingchamber 36, and at the other end to an actuatingdiaphragm 4-1, forming one side of an operating-chamber 42, which communicates by a suitable conduit 43 with the primary neumatic. The primary pneumatic is simier in construction to the secondary pneumatic, and is shown as having the chamber 44, with which the conduit 43 communicates, the counterbalancing-chamber 45, communicating with the wind-chest 34, the valve 16, controlling communication between the chambers 45 and 44, and the valve 47, controlling communication between the chamber 4 1 and the atmosphere. Said valves are connected by the valve-stem 418, which is connected to a counterbalancing-diaphragm 49, subjected to the wind-pressure in the wind-chest 34, and to an actuating diaphragm 50, which is subjected on one side to atmospheric pressure. Beneath the diaphragm IS an operatingchamber 51, which communicates by a conduit 52 with one of the ducts of the trachea board 53, which in this embodiment of my invention is situated within the wind-chest 54. T he Counterbalancing-diaphragm U and the valve 37 both subjected to the pressure of the wind in the wind-chest 32, said wind-pressure operating in opposite directions upon said valve and diaphragm. The area of the valve has such a re ation to that of the diaphragm, however, that with the weight of the va Fes there is a preponderance of pressure on the valve 37, tending to hold it ciosed, whichia normal position. This saaeer preponderance of pressure, however, is only suliicient in amount to keep the valve closed and can be easily overcome bya slight in crease of pressure in the chamber 42. The same. is true with relation to the valves 46 and 47 of the primary pneumatic, and therefore under normal conditions the valve 46 will be closed. Since these valves are so delicately balanced, it will obviously require very little pressure in the operating-chambers 4:2 and 51 to overcome the preponderance of pressure tending to keep the valves closed.

in theoperation of this device whenever a hole in the perforated sheet of music uncovers the duct in the tracker-board windunder pressure is admitted to the operating-chamber 51, which wind-pressure acting against the lowenside of the actuating-diaphragm overcomes the preponderance of pressure,

tending to keep the valve 46 closed, and said valve is therefore opened and wind admitted from the wind-chest 34 of the primary pneumatic directly to the operating-chamber 42 of the secondary pneumatic. The increase of pressure on the under side of the actuatingdiaphragm All of the secondary pneumatic overcomes the preponderance of pressure tending to keep the inlet-valve 37 closed, whereby said valveis opened, the valve-39 closing; at the same time, and wind-pressure is admitted from the wind-chest 32 to the device 30 to be operated.

in Fig. il have shown another embodiment of my invention, which is adapted to be used with wind-pressure less than atmos pheric pressure. In said embodiment 3 is the device to be operated, which is illustrated as a power-pneumatic for operating any suitable device-such, for-instance, as. a linger of an automatic piano-player. The secondary pneumatic is made witha chamber 65, communicating with the power pneumatic, a counterbalancing-chamber 66, which connectsivith the wind-chest 62, and an operating-chamber 68, which communicates with.

the primary pneumatic, a valve 67 controlling communication between the counterbalancin -chamber 66 and the chamber 65, and anot ier valve 69, which controls communication between said chamber and the atmosphere. Both these valves are attached to a valve-stem 68, and said stem is secured at one end to a co'unterhalancing-diaphragm 61, forming one side of thecounterbalancingchamber 66, and at the other end to an actuating-diaphragm 64, forming one side of the operating-charnber 63. The primary pneumatic is similar in constructionthat is, it includes a chamber 75, communicating with the operating-chamber 63 of the secondary pneumatic, a counterbalancin -chamber 76, communicating with the win -chest 72, an opera-tingr-chamber 73, a valve 77, controlling communication between the chamber an the oounterbalancing-chamber, and another diaphragm 71 and at up L2 valve 79, controlling communication between said chamber 75 and the atmosphere. Said valves are carried by a valve-stem 78, which is connected at one end to a countcrbalancing the other end to an acbusting diaphragm 74. The operatingchamber 73 communicates, by a suitable conduit 80, with a duct of the trachenboard 81. In order that the device may operate, it is essential that the 0peratingchamber he non mally exhausted, and to accomplish this purpose i make the tracker-board with a wind chest or exhaust-chambcr 82, wh;.ch extends the length of the tracker-board and communicates with each of the ducts therein. The normal position of each of the valves 67 and 77 of the primary and secondary pneumatics is the closed position, and the area of each of said valves and the effective area of the corresponding counterbalancing diaphragms have such relation to each other that there is a preponderance of'pressure on each valve tending to hold it in its normal position, which in this, embodiment of the invention is the closed position. As soon, however, as an aperture in the perforated music-sheet 83 asses over the duct in the tracher-board air 1s admitted to the operatingphamber 73 of the primary pneumatic, thus increasing the pressure therein, and such increase of pressure is suflicient to overcome the preponderance of pressure tending to hold the valve 77 closed, whereby said valve opens, the valve 7 9 closing at the same time, and the pressure in the operating-chamber (3 of the secondary pneumatic is thus reduced, such reduction in pressure being suflicient to overcome the preponderance of pressure tending to hold the valve 67 closed,- whereby said valve opens and the power-pneumatic is exhausted.

' In Fig. 5 I have illustrated. still another embodiment of my invention in which the pneumatics are operated by wind-pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. in all of the forms of my invention heretofore described the normal position of the valve which controls communication between the coun terbalancing-chamber and the device to be operated is the closed position. in the embodiment illustrated in 5 the normal position of said valve is the open position. in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and i the device to be operated. is a power-pneumatic. In Fig. 5 the device to be operated is a pipe-valve Said pipe valve may have any suitable or usual construction and is designated. generally by 85.

' lit comprises a diaphragm 86, which controls communication between the wind-chest 8? and the duct 88, leading to the pipe 89. The normal position of the diaphragm 86 is that shown in the drawings, wherein it closes communication between the windchest 87 and the duct 88, said diaphragm being held I in th s position by air-pressure from the acthe counterbalancing-chamber.

HAL-J tion wind-chest 90. The secondary pneu- I communicating with a wind-chest matic comprises a counterbalancing-chamber 91, communicating with the action windchest 90, a chamber 92, communicating with the pipe-valve, and an operating-chamber 93, which communicates with the primary pneumatic. controlling communication between the counterbalancing-chamber and the chamber 92, and another valve 95, controlling communication between the chamber 92 and the atmosphere. Said valves are connected to a valve-stem 96, which is connected at one end to a counterbalancing-diaphra m 97 and at the other end to an actuatingiaphragm 98.

The primary pneumatic comprises a chamber 100, communicating with the operatingchamber 93 of the secondary pneumatic, a counterbalancing-chamber 101, an operatingchamber 102, a valve 103', and a valve 104. Said valves are carried by a valve-stem, which is connected at one end to a counterbalancing-diaphragm 105 and at the other end to an actuating-diaphragm 106. 10.7 designates a wind-chest communicating with In the primary pneumatic the normal position of the inlet-valve 103 is a closed position, While in the secondary pneumatic the normal position is the open position of the valve 94. The operating-chamher 102 of the'prirnary pneu- .matic is shown as communicating by a conduit 108 with a duct of a tracker-board 109, which is situated within a wind-chest 110. in both the primary and secondary pneumatics the area of the valves 103 and 94: is so arranged with reference to the effective area of the counterbalancing diaphragm that there is a preponderance of pressure tending to maintain said valves in their normal position, which in the case of the secondary pneumatic is the open position and in the case of the primary pneumatic is the closed position. Whenever wind is admitted to the operatingchamber 102 through the operation of the perforated music-sheet, this preponderance of pressure in the primary pneumatic will be overcome and the valves 103 and 104 will be shifted to admit wind to the operating-chamher 93 of the secondary pneumatic, thereby increasing the pressure in said chamber, such increase of pressure overcoming the preponderance of pressure tending to hold the valve 4 open, whereby. said valve closes and the valve opens, thereby to let the wind esca e from the pipe-valve. W hen this occurs, the wind-pressure in the wind-chest 87 lifts the diaphragm 86 from its seat, and Wind is ad mitted to the pipe 89.

in Fig-.- 6 i have illustrated another embodiment of my invention wherein the primary pneumatic is operated by wind having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure. in this embodiment the primary pneumatic comprises a counterhalancing-chamber 111 It also includes an inlet-valve 94,,

)'.- 71 chamber 113. The countorbalaimmg chann I her and operating-chainher are separated by a counterbalancing-(iiaphragm 11 which is secured to the valve-stem 115, to which the valve 116 is secured; The valve 116 plays between two valve-seats 117 and llh, and ill its normal position, as shown in. Fig. 6, it

conduit and the atmosphere and opens said conduit to the counterbalancing-ehaniber. The operating-chamber 113 13 connected by a conduit 120 to one of the ducts of a tracl er- 1 board 121, and associated with said trackeru board 1s a wind-chest 122, in which the pre sure is less than atmospheric pressure. Uri-- der normal conditions, therefore, the open siting-chamber 113 is exhausted. The val "e 116 and the counterbalaiming-diaphragm iii' have such a size relative to each other that under normal conditions there is a preponderance of pressure on the diaphragm and valve tending to keep the valve against the seat 117, which is the normal position of the valve. board is uncovered, however, air is adm' to the operating-chamber, thus increas the pressure therein,.with the result that valve 116 is shifted to its abnormal positir and wind from the wind-chest is a 'nii', the operating chamber of the pneumatic.

In all of the 'abovedescribed forms of my invention, whether it-he embodied in a primary pneumatic "or in a seconds i matic, it will be noted that the A sure in the wind-chest acts in op, Osite dire tions against a coimacted counterbalancingdiaphragm and valve and that the relative area of said diaphragm and valve is such that there is a preponderance of windpressine (or suction) tending to ma ntain the valve in its normal position; but this preponderance of pressure is so slight that a very small increase of the pressure in the operating-chamher is sufficient to overcome it and cause the valve to operate. in some forms of the invention the normal position of the said valve is the closed position and in other forms it is the open position.

One of the advantages gained by my construction is that the valves of each pneumatic work very quickly zfnd are sure to Work even though the full wird-pressure is not admitted to the operating-chamber for any reason. This is so because a very slight increase of pressure in the operatii'ig-chamher is sufficient to throw the valves.

' My invention is especially useful in organs,

Whenever the duct in the tracker-- pneumatic pianopiayers, and similar inctru inents vvlere a very quick action seas pneumatic. is desired. 1

Another feature of my consider as important is a he pneumatics are made entirely of metal, and there fore are rot subject to the imperfections inherent in the ordinary form of pneumatic.

It will be noted that the counterbalancingdiaphragm of each pneumatic is secured to the correspondingvalve-stern by rneans of nuts 70, which can be adjusted up and down upon the valve-stein, said stem being screwthreaded for this purpose. By shiftingthe nuts along the valve-stenr'thereby to adjust the diaphragm up or down thereon, said diaphragm may he made more or less efiective in counteracting the pressure of the wind in the wind-chest on the fillet-valve,- tending to hold it in its normal position, for it will be obvious that if the nuts 70 in Fig.3 were adjusted so as to carry the point of connection of the counterb'alanci11g-diaphragm 40 nearer to the end of the valve-stem said diaphragm would have less lifting power than it has in the position shown in Fig. 3. By means of this construction, therefore, it is possible to adjust the counterbalancingdiaphragms so that the wind-pressure thereagainst will very nearl but not quite, coun- -terbalance the pressure of the-wind against the opposed valve.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is

1. ln a pneumatic action for musical instruments, two connected valves, a counterbalancingdiaphragm and an o crating-diaphragm, both connected to sai valves.

2. In a device of the class described, a de- .vico to be operated, a wind-chest, two connected valves, one to control communication between the Wind-chest and the device to be operated, and the other to control communication between said device and the atmosphere, the first-named valve being so located that the pressure within the wind-chest thereagainst tends to hold it in its normal position, and normally operative means acted upon by the tension in the wind-chest to nearly but not quite counterbalance the pressure on said valve.

3. In a device of the class described, a device to be operated, a Wind-chest, two connected valves, one controlling communication between said Wind-chest and the device to be operated, and the other controlling co1nnlunication between saiddevice and the atmosphere, a counterhalancing diaphragm acted on by the air-tension in said wind-chest and operating to approximately counterbah once the action of the air tension against said first-named valve; A

4. In a device of the class described, a de- 'viceifto be operated, a wind-chest, two con acted on by the air tension in said wind-chest and operating to approximately counterhalance the action or" the air tension against said iirstnamed valve, and an operatingdiaphragm connected to said valve.

5. in a device of the class described, a device to be operated, a wind-chest, a counterhalancingchamber communicating therewith, a valve controlling communication between said chamber and the device to be operated, said valve being so situated that the air tension in the chamber tends to maintain it in its normal position, a counterbalancing diaphragm connected to said valve and continuously subjected to the air tension in the wind-chest, whereby the pressure against the diaphragm nearly but not quite counterbalances that against the valve, and an operating-diaphragm also connected to the valve.

6. in a device of the class described, a device to be operated, a wind-chest, a valveca'sing having within it two valves connected by a valve-stem, one valve controlling communication between said Wind-chest and the device to be operated, and the other valve controlling communication between said do vice and the atmosphere, a counterbalancingdiaphragm connected to one end of said valve-stem and continuously subjected to the air tension within the wind-chest, and an operating-diaphragm connected at the other end of said valve-stem.

7. In a device of the class described, 2. cas in two connected valves therein, a counterba ancing-diaphragm at one end of the casing and an operating-die hragm at the opposite end of the casing, hot i diaphragms being connected to the valves.

8. in a dcvice'oi the class described, a metallic casing, two connected valves therein, a connterbalancingdiaphragm at one end of the casing connected to said valves, and an operating-diaphragm at the other end'of the casing also connected to said valves.

lindrical metallic casing havingpartitions can tending thereacross and provided with p01 cs, valves controlling said ports, a valve-stein to which said valves are connected, a counterbalancing-diaphragrn at one end of the connected to said valve-stem, an operatingdiaphragln at the other end of the casing also connected to said valve-stem, a Wind-chest communicating with the casing between the counterbalancing-diaphragm and one valve, and means to vary the pressure on The 0pemting-diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name td thls spec1ficat1on 1n the presence of two subscnbmg wltnesses.

JACOB BINNIG.

W itncsses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, 1 BERTHA F. HEUsER. 

